Through The Tagus, One Goes To The World

Pelo Tejo vai-se para o mundo.

The phrase “Pelo Tejo vai-se para o mundo” is a Portuguese expression that, in a literal translation, means “Through the Tagus, one goes to the world.”

This phrase encapsulates a symbolic and historical idea that reflects the significance of the Tagus River in the geography, culture, and history of Portugal.

The Tagus River is the largest river on the Iberian Peninsula,

Its estuary is located in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

The river rises in the Montes Universales near Teruel, in mid-eastern Spain, flows 1,007 km, generally westward, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Lisbon.

The Tagus River serves as an important source of water for agriculture providing irrigation to local farms.

Historically, the Tagus played a crucial role in the development and maritime expansion of Portugal during the 15th and 16th centuries, known as the “Age of Discoveries.”

During this golden age of Portuguese history, explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Fernão Mendes Pinto set sail from the banks of the Tagus on epic journeys that led to the discovery of new maritime routes, trade connections, and the exploration of distant lands.